Trial Scheduled for April in Case of Slain Randle Teen

Benito S. Marquez, the 16-year-old boy charged in the death of Randle teen Benjamin Eastman III, is currently slated to face a jury trial on April 1, after making an appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Thursday afternoon to chart out the future of his case.

Marquez and his brother, Jonathon R. Adamson, 21, are both charged in Eastman’s death — a loss that shook the Randle community, and has made signs, shirts and window decals bearing the slogan “Justice for Ben” a common sight in Lewis County.

Marquez appeared briefly Thursday, as the teen was escorted in separately after a slew of other inmates — all slated to appear for Superior Court’s Thursday criminal docket.

He sat alongside his defense counsel Shane O’Rourke, who stated he intended to ask for a trial date sometime in March. Judge Andrew Toynbee slated the jury trial to start April 1, 2019, with a trial confirmation hearing on March 28, 2019. He has an omnibus hearing slated for Dec. 20.

O’Rourke said the trial is likely to span seven days.

Marquez , who was charged as an adult, has been incarcerated in the Lewis County Jail since July 2. He and Adamson are both charged with first-degree murder, first-degree rape, tampering with evidence and unlawful disposal of remains.

Adamson could face a jury as soon as Feb. 11, 2019.

If either case does go to trial, Marquez and Adamson likely will see their mother, Kindra Adamson, 43, of Randle take the stand as a state witness. Kindra Adamson pleaded guilty in August to two counts of first-degree rendering criminal assistance after faced with a state-offered plea deal agreement. A condition of the agreement placed Kindra Adamson on the list of state witnesses.

Kindra Adamson was accused of lying to deputies about information she possessed in the case.

As part of her plea agreement, if she follows all the conditions of her release, one of the felony counts would be knocked down to a misdemeanor, with a recommended sentence of credit for time served.

“So obviously, given the situation, (Benito) and Jonathan are our main focus, and so we see Mrs. Adamson as being able to help ensure that they’re held accountable, and, at the same time, she’s held accountable for her actions,” Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer told The Chronicle at the time.

Adamson’s fiancé, Emma Brown, 20, of Glenoma — the last in the quartet accused in connection to Eastman’s death — was also charged with two counts of first-degree rendering criminal assistance for allegedly withholding information during an interview with investigators.

She currently has a jury trial scheduled for Nov. 19.